{"id":29279,"date":"2021-02-09T08:46:10","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T08:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/?p=29279"},"modified":"2024-11-03T09:31:17","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T09:31:17","slug":"wizards-hold-off-bulls-comeback-as-deni-avdija-embraces-short-term-bench-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/en\/wizards-hold-off-bulls-comeback-as-deni-avdija-embraces-short-term-bench-role\/","title":{"rendered":"Wizards hold off Bulls comeback as Deni Avdija embraces short-term bench role"},"content":{"rendered":"

A day after being mostly embarrassed by the sub-.500 Charlotte Hornets, the Wizards responded in the second game of a back-to-back with a better effort that was just good enough to secure a 105-101 win over the Chicago Bulls. Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine each scored 35 points, but it was Beal earning a foul call late and LaVine unable to finish over Alex Len<\/a> that was the difference. In his first career NBA game off the bench, Deni Avdija had just four points on 2-for-9 shooting but did collect a career-high 10 rebounds and three steals in 28 minutes.
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Deni Avdija – Photo Credit: Washington Wizards<\/p><\/div>
\nWithout Russell Westbrook (rest) who has continued to sit out back-to-backs despite Scott Brooks indicating he could play in both such games in the future, Washington improved to 4-3 on the season. A stark difference to the 2-12 the Wizards are with Westbrook on the floor. Correlation does not always mean causation, but five of the Wizards’ best defensive performances have come with Westbrook out. Maybe the team is more focused defensively knowing they cannot outscore opponents without Westbrook’s secondary scoring, maybe. Regardless, the Wizards have to find a way to be equally successful holding opponents under 110 points when their newest supermax point guard is playing.<\/p>\n

“I wasn’t too bothered by offense because we defended well,” Bradley Beal said about Washington going without a field goal in the final four-plus minutes. “Granted they made some tough ones down the stretch, but ultimately our defense is what won us the game.”<\/p>\n

Avdija came off the bench in the second half against the Hornets, which foreshadowed him coming off the bench to start the game against the Bulls. Scott Brooks cited a hope to jump-start the struggling Davis Bertans as the main reason why. It worked to a degree as Bertans was 4-for-8 from deep in the first half. Despite not starting, Avdija exceeded his season average of 22 minutes per game and spent much of his 28-plus minutes attempting to slow down future All-Star Zach LaVine.<\/p>\n

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Deni Avdija snaps the Wizards 5+ minute scoreless streak pic.twitter.com\/4pLJx8gYR1<\/a><\/p>\n

— Hoop District (@Hoop_District) February 9, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n